Amos Turlow: The Brutal Enforcer in Amity
Overview
Amos Turlow is a violent and manipulative man hired by Mr. Harper to retrieve June from Mexico. Throughout Amity, he serves as a primary antagonist, first as a duplicitous guide, then as a captor, and finally as a desperate fugitive. His presence underscores the novel’s exploration of freedom versus captivity and the cycles of trauma that perpetuate cruelty. While Turlow’s actions are explicitly documented, his internal motivations—shaped by a traumatic childhood—require careful interpretation from the evidence.
Plot Role
Turlow enters the story as the Harpers’ hired escort, accompanying Coleman, Florence, and Mrs. Harper aboard the steamer Jubilee. He privately reveals to Coleman a letter from Mr. Harper that exposes the true purpose of the journey: not a family reunion, but a scheme to use Coleman to lure June back into captivity. After the shipwreck, Turlow locks Coleman and Florence in a room, stealing Mrs. Harper’s trunk and implicitly causing her death. He later recaptures them with his brother Cyrus, leading to a series of escapes and confrontations across the Mexican desert.
Turlow’s role shifts from pursuer to captive when Mexican soldiers arrest him and Cyrus at the Birdcage garrison. After a tense dinner with General Chavez, he escapes his restraints, murders Hector, shoots Ignacio, and runs down William Free in an attempt to reclaim the wagon. He is finally thrown from the wagon by Coleman during a struggle, and his ultimate fate—whether he dies or is captured—remains ambiguous, though he no longer threatens the protagonists.
Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions
Turlow is driven by financial gain and a deeply ingrained survival instinct shaped by a violent upbringing. He tells Coleman a harrowing story of witnessing his uncle murder a fisherman and then being forced to assist; he claims he left that life behind but never trusted anyone except his brother. This past explains his cold pragmatism and willingness to use violence as a tool. However, his actions also reveal a cruel streak: he mocks Coleman’s learned speech, tries to silence him publicly, and callously dismisses Florence’s grief over her mother’s death.
His trait of dominance is evident when he physically intimidates Coleman and Florence, and when he attempts to control the narrative—forbidding Coleman from mentioning the mine at the Birdcage dinner. Yet under pressure, Turlow shows desperation; after his brother Cyrus is taken away (with a wail suggesting death), Amos grows quiet and defensive, his confidence crumbling.
Chronological Arc
Turlow’s journey in the novel can be traced through key phases:
- Hired Escort (Chapters 2–4): He boards the Jubilee with the Harpers and Coleman, revealing Harper’s true plan. He shares his traumatic backstory, perhaps to build false rapport.
- Shipwreck and Captivity (Chapters 5–7): After the fire, he steals Mrs. Harper’s trunk and locks Florence and Coleman in a room. They escape after Florence feigns an attack on Coleman.
- Recapture and Desert Travel (Chapters 9–11): Turlow and Cyrus find the fugitives, but the group is captured by soldiers. At the Birdcage, Turlow is shackled, forced to watch his brother removed, and slapped by General Chavez for trying to silence Coleman.
- Final Escape and Attack (Chapter 14): Turlow escapes his chains, kills Hector and Ignacio, runs down William, and recaptures the wagon. He is thrown from the wagon by Coleman and Florence, ending his pursuit.
- Ambiguous Fate: After the crash, Turlow is not seen again; his death is implied but not confirmed.
Relationships
Mr. Harper
Turlow is Harper’s employee, tasked with retrieving June. He carries Harper’s letter and follows orders, but he also acts in his own interest—stealing the trunk and locking up the survivors. The relationship is purely transactional; Turlow shows no loyalty beyond payment.
Cyrus Turlow
Cyrus is Amos’s younger, more volatile brother. Amos exerts authority over him, and Cyrus defers to him. The brothers share a bond forged in their abusive childhood, but the Birdcage arrest separates them; Cyrus is taken away with a wail, leaving Amos alone. This loss fuels Amos’s desperation and final violent outburst.
Coleman
Turlow views Coleman as inferior and tries to humiliate him for his educated speech. He uses the letter to manipulate Coleman, and later tries to silence him. Their adversarial relationship culminates in Coleman pushing Turlow off the wagon—a direct act of resistance.
Florence
Turlow dismisses Florence as a “grieving, miserable woman” and locks her up. She accuses him of causing her mother’s death, a charge he denies. Florence ultimately slaps him and helps Coleman defeat him.
General Chavez
At the Birdcage, Chavez shackles Turlow, forces him to watch his brother removed, and slaps him for interrupting. Turlow is powerless before the General, highlighting his fall from dominance.
Key Decisions and Consequences
| Decision | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Stealing Mrs. Harper’s trunk and locking Florence and Coleman | Strengthens Florence’s resolve to escape; they flee and later capture Turlow. |
| Trying to suppress Coleman’s truth about the mine at dinner | General Chavez slaps Turlow, degrading him in front of everyone. |
| Escaping his chains and attacking the group | Kills Hector and Ignacio, but is ultimately thrown from the wagon, ending his threat. |
These actions demonstrate Turlow’s pattern of escalating violence that ultimately leads to his downfall.
Theme and Symbol Connections
Turlow embodies the theme of freedom versus captivity: he is both an agent of captivity (enslaving others) and a captive of his own traumatic past. His story about his uncle mirrors the novel’s exploration of memory and trauma, showing how cycles of violence are passed down. Unlike Coleman, who uses storytelling as a healing tool (see storytelling as healing), Turlow weaponizes his story to justify his cruelty. His lack of family bonds beyond Cyrus—who is taken from him—underscores his isolation. Finally, his relentless survival instinct aligns with the theme of survival and resilience, though his version of survival destroys others.
5 Book-Specific Questions and Direct Answers
1. Why does Turlow show Mr. Harper’s letter to Coleman on the Jubilee?
He seeks Coleman’s cooperation by revealing that Harper wants Coleman to lure June back, not to reunite the family. The letter serves as a tool of psychological control.
2. What does Turlow’s childhood story reveal about his character?
It explains his distrust of others and his learned capacity for violence. Witnessing his uncle kill a fisherman and being forced into complicity shaped his pragmatic, ruthless worldview.
3. How does Turlow’s relationship with his brother Cyrus differ from his relationship with others?
Cyrus is the only person Turlow trusts; they share a bond formed in shared trauma. When Cyrus is taken away at the Birdcage, Amos becomes visibly shaken and more desperate.
4. Why does Turlow try to silence Coleman at General Chavez’s dinner?
He fears that revealing Mr. Harper’s mine will jeopardize his own financial stake. His interruption shows his instinct to control information even when powerless.
5. What is the significance of Turlow’s final attack on the group?
It represents the climax of his violence—a last-ditch effort to reclaim power. His defeat by Coleman and Florence marks a turning point where the protagonists fully resist his domination, and his ambiguous fate leaves him as a cautionary example of unchecked cruelty.
For further analysis of Turlow’s role in the novel’s climax, see the ending explained and questions and answers pages.